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Skriven 2005-06-01 02:09:48 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

NORMS FOR RENEWAL OF WORSHIP IN BASILICA OF ST. PAUL'S

VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2005 (VIS) - Today, Feast of the Visitation of Mary,
Benedict XVI, with the Motu Proprio "The Ancient and Venerable Basilica,"
emanated new norms for a renewal of the practice of worship in the pontifical
basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. The norms also affect administrative
and extraterritorial aspects of the basilica.

The Pope recalls that this ancient basilica was built on the site where,
according to tradition, the Apostle of the People was martyred. The basilica
also serves as church to the abbey of Benedictine monks located in the same
complex.

With the Lateran Pacts of 1929 and successive agreements between the Holy See
and Italy, the land and the buildings that make up the complex of St. Paul's
Outside-the-Walls belong to the Holy See and enjoy a special juridical status
according to the norms of international law. In keeping with current norms, the
Supreme Pontiff exercises civil authority over the entire extraterritorial
complex.

Underlining the fact that, in the past, the Holy See defined only some aspects
of the jurisdiction of the pontifical administration of the basilica and of the
Benedictine abbey, the Pope writes that he now feels it "appropriate to emanate
some general norms with the aim of clarifying and defining the principle
aspects of the pastoral and administrative management of the complex of St.
Paul's Outside-the-Walls. This will make it possible to compile a statute
laying down the duties of the parties involved, and regulating their dealings
with one another."

As in the case of the other major basilicas, Benedict XVI has decided to
appoint an archpriest to St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, who will exercise
"ordinary and immediate jurisdiction." He will have a vicar for pastoral care
in the person of the abbot of the Benedictine abbey, and a delegate for
administrative tasks. The archpriest will also have to coordinate the various
administrative bodies of the complex, each according to its particular purpose,
except in matters that are the exclusive competency of the abbot within the
abbey.

The abbot of the monastery of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, after having been
canonically elected, must be confirmed by the Pope. He enjoys all the rights
and prerogatives as superior of the Benedictine community. In order to enable
the abbot to attend to his duties in the monastic community, John Paul II
established "that the extraterritorial area around the abbey should be removed
from the jurisdiction of the abbot of St. Paul's, who will nonetheless conserve
his ordinary jurisdiction 'intra septa monasterii' and his liturgical function
within the basilica, as defined in this document and as will be specified in
the forthcoming statute."

Since March 2005, the abbey has taken the name of "Abbey of St. Paul's
Outside-the-Walls," and its character and title as a "territorial"
circumscription have been suppressed. Thus, excepting the duties of the
archpriest of St. Paul's and those of the abbot, "the power of ordinary
pastoral jurisdiction over the entire extraterritorial area of St. Paul's
Outside-the-Walls, falls to the cardinal vicar of Rome, who exercises that
power through the territorially-competent diocesan parish."

Thus, the pontifical administration of the basilica "is suppressed and all its
functions are transferred to the archpriest, who will exercise them in keeping
with the statute to be approved by the competent offices of the Holy See."

In order to guarantee the ministry of Penance in the basilica, much frequented
by pilgrims from all over the world, Benedict XVI confirms the norms laid down
in Pope Pius XI's Apostolic Constitution "Quod divina favente," that "the
administration of the Sacrament of Penance should continue to be entrusted to
the care of the penitentiaries, chosen from the Benedictine monks and
constituted according to the terms of the forthcoming statute".

The Pope goes on to point out how, in recent times, the Holy See has shown
particular interest in promoting special ecumenical events, either in the
basilica or within the abbey. "It will, therefore, be the task of the monks,
under the supervision of the archpriest, to organize, coordinate and develop
such programs, also with the help of their Benedictine confreres from other
abbeys and in accordance with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity."

The Pope concludes by calling on the Apostle of the People to illuminate those
who work in the basilica and the pilgrims who travel there.
MP/ST PAUL'S BASILICA/... VIS 050531 (730)

SUMMARY

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